Omaha Public Power District on June 19 announced that the newest addition to its generation fleet, Turtle Creek Station, is now operational. The Turtle Creek Station units are capable of producing 450 MW when at full unit output.
Turtle Creek Station will be used to balance energy load and features two dual-fuel combustion turbines, capable of operating on natural gas or fuel oil.
Each turbine can produce approximately 225 MW of power, depending on ambient temperatures, and can reach full output in under 11 minutes – making them among the fastest units in OPPD's fleet. In comparison, units at OPPD’s Cass County Station currently take about 45 minutes to start up.
This speed is increasingly vital for managing the electric grid as OPPD and the Southwest Power Pool rely more on variable energy resources, which have rapidly changing power outputs, OPPD, a Nebraska public power utility, noted.
Dual-fuel turbines provide versatility and flexibility to enhance reliability, efficiency and stability by allowing the station to switch between fuels seamlessly, even when in operation. This means that if one fuel source is unavailable, the other can be used, ensuring uninterrupted power generation. As we experience more volatile weather, having a diverse generation fleet is central to ensuring we provide affordable, reliable power to our customers.
The plant will run as needed and will be available to support regional power and reliability needs for southeast Nebraskan communities to continue to grow and thrive.
While the two main turbines are operational, construction of a third turbine at Turtle Creek Station is underway, with an anticipated completion in 2027.
